With American President Donald Trump removing human rights and protections for the LGBTQ+ community, crushing DEI programs that had supported women in the workplace, and imposing tariffs that will raise costs for PWHL fans and the league, the political decisions occurring in the United States could spell bad news for fans, players, and the PWHL itself.

The second season of the PWHL is set to hit the midway point, and it comes at a time when relations between Canada and the United States, the two nations involved in the league, are hitting an all-time low. With trade wars being imposed by American president Donald Trump, and the removal of laws protecting LGBTQ+ individuals and women, along with ongoing attacks on immigrants in the USA, the PWHL could be facing new challenges for their fans, player pool, and business.

Queer Fans Under Attack

In Trump's world, transgender individuals do not exist.

"As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.”

Those were Trumps words in his inauguration address. Human rights organizations across the globe immediately reacted, including organizations like GLAAD in the United States. It's not only LGBTQ+ fans, it's also the league's non-white fans as Trump has claimed he will instate a "color-blind" nation. As GLAAD wrote, "Trump’s disingenuous claim to be “color-blind” conflicts with his long history of anti-Black and other racist behavior, and his claim that there are only two genders conflicts with the reality that gender diverse people have always existed, across cultures and history, with science and medicine recognizing gender is a spectrum, with transgender and nonbinary people acknowledged and supported by every major medical association in the world."

As the Human Rights Campaign wrote, Trump's orders targeting LGBTQ+ individuals "serve no other purpose than to hurt our families and our communities."

The PWHL itself has struggled to show support at times for the LGBTQ+ community. Despite promises of a gender inclusion policy over a year ago now, the league has failed to produce any policy recognizing and protecting LGBTQ+ athletes. Trump's acts to remove inclusive education, and to deny transgender youth from gender affirming care, which medical professionals deem lifesaving care, puts a large number of PWHL fans' health, jobs, and well being at risk.

The PWHL's fan base has a large component of LGBTQ+ individuals, and with attacks in America against LGBTQ+ rights, the league itself will be tasked with ensuring fans and players remain safe in their venues.

Will International Players Hesitate To Join The League?

Will top players from other nations consider joining the PWHL with the chance they'll be selected by an American team? In a nation where immigration is under attack, and where LGBTQ+ people are watching human rights evaporate, will international players consider coming overseas? In particular, a large portion of athletes in the PWHL are members of the LGBTQ+ community, so the prospect of joining a league based in a nation where LGBTQ+ rights and healthcare are actively being removed, and where beliefs about the existence of LGBTQ+ individuals are being weaponized and demonized, may give international athletes reason to reconsider. Incoming tariffs will also reduce the buying power of those living in the United States, meaning the already slim base salary of $36,050 will equate to even less in terms of value. Less money means a less enticing league for players to leave their homes and families for.

Booing National Anthems

The PWHL was built on unity, but the animosity came quickly as fans North of the border began booing the American national anthem this weekend. Almost immediately, home games in Canada saw fans booing the American national anthem after Trump imposed tariffs against one of the USA's largest trade partners. On ice rivalries are fun, but pitting fans against fans will never be good for this league.

As American Buying Power Decreases, So Will Ticket Sales

According to the Budget Lab at Yale University, the new tariffs imposed by Trump will cost the average American household between $1000 and $1200 annually in buying power. When buying power doesn't go as far, the first area individuals often cut is in discretionary and entertainment based spending, including travel, tickets to concerts and, you guessed it, sporting events. 

It's also an issue that will impact the highly educated women entering this league who will need to make personal financial decisions. Many in the league continue to work multiple jobs to afford their homes and necessities, and with salaries locked into minimal growth for the next six years, we may see more women choosing to bypass the league, or leaving the league prematurely in favor of more financially sustainable careers.

Economists not only predict buying power will decrease, it's expected that household income after taxes in the USA will drop by more than $900 in 2026. That's the equivalent of season tickets for a PWHL team.

Travel and Energy Costs Will Increase

In an upstart league, all costs are crucial to consider, but Trump's recent tariffs, in particular against Canada, will negatively impact the league's bottom line. This could come in areas like equipment or apparel for fans and players, but more evidently, the cost for travel in the PWHL will be increased. With particular industries, including the oil and gas industry being targeted by tariffs, the price for fuel will increase, and with it, travel costs. The league has been considering expansion farther west, and has spent a chunk of their season touring North America as part of the PWHL Takeover Tour. Soon, any such venture will cost the league significantly more. Costs will rise in all energy sectors as well, and as arenas are energy heavy facilities, the cost to operate venues could increase. Sadly for fans, when these costs go up, the easiest way for any league to recoup those losses is to pass the cost along to the consumer in the form of increased ticket prices next season.

While fans don't want to hear this either, as PWHL apparel is already on the pricey end, any items coming from Canada could see another bump in cost as tariffs are primarily passed on to consumers. Two of the PWHL's primary suppliers, Bauer and CCM are both Canadian companies. If the PWHL continues to purchase from Canadian companies for American operations, it is the PWHL who will be paying additional taxes, and eventually fans.

Removing DEI Could Leave Women Less Empowered

Historically, men, particularly white men, have dominated the workplace, and held that domination through segregation, acts of oppression, and discrimination. Women in sport have fought for more than a century for ice time, jobs, against stereotypes, and to overturn rules banning women and girls from sports like hockey altogether. More recently, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts have sought to re-open doors and reduce barriers for qualified women and people of color who had been, and continue to be, discriminated against in the workplace. This ongoing discrimination has maintained the gender gap in pay for equal work in nearly every area of industry, including sport. The PWHL and other professional women's sports leagues have fought back in one of the most valuable ways, through visible representation that has inspired new generations of young girls to chase their dreams and pursue careers in sport. Prior to the PWHL, girls and women had never seen an opportunity to play hockey as a professional career. The gaps remain evident however, including the fact there are currently 83 players in the NHL who make more individually per season than all 138 rostered players in the PWHL combined. But the PWHL is a first step in rectifying these gaps, but the removal of DEI initiatives will shut the door on the future of many women and girls. Other industries are already fearing Trump's cuts to diversity will decrease opportunities for women and other marginalized groups to have a fair chance to enter careers. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the DEI initiatives now banned by Trump, were well within the law and were "essential to creating environments where everyone has a chance to succeed and addressing persistent barriers for individuals to advance in their careers."

Fans Already Fighting Back

While the stands in Ottawa, the capital city of Canada, are primarily filled with red and gold for their hometown Ottawa Charge, there will be a distinct infusion of light blue, pink, and white at an upcoming home game. Ottawa Charge supporters are planning a fan driven Pride night on February 13, where it's expected that a large number of fans will come with signs and outfits supporting the transgender community. The game, which will see the Ottawa Charge face the Minnesota Frost, an organization that faced criticism this offseason from members of the LGBTQ+ and human rights advocates. 

League Celebrating Black History Month

Trump's cessation of DEI efforts will not impact the private sector directly, although private businesses are feeling pressure from the American government to ditch DEI efforts. In one such instance, shareholders of Costco overwhelmingly voted to not only continue, but increase DEI efforts, despite threats from the American government. The PWHL is also continuing with planned celebrations including a February full of recognition for Black History Month. Last season, the PWHL also hired former professional women's hockey player Saroya Tinker as the league's Manager, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives & Community Engagement. Tinker's positive impact on the sport has been recognized by many.

While the long term impact on women's sport and the PWHL in particular remain unknown, fans, players, and the league itself are set to face new challenges in the face of recent political decisions in the United States.